The dragon to be // House of dragons

23

Raina gazed down at her dress, admiring the intricate braid that adorned her hair, sweeping it back and framing her face with delicate curls cascading at the ends.

Having been in King's Landing for several days now, she had witnessed her grandfather's involvement in a series of daily events, each more grand than the last.

Her attention shifted to Wyrion, peacefully asleep in the crib her grandfather had meticulously crafted. Nestled next to him was a captivating blue and green egg, adding a touch of enchantment to the scene.

"Are you looking forward to the tournament?" Ali inquired, meeting Raina's gaze.

"Not particularly," Raina responded with a hint of weariness. "I've attended numerous tournaments before."

"But this tournament is for my son," she continued, a determined smile crossing her lips. "So I shall attend with a cheerful disposition."

Ali's eyes sparkled mischievously. "I've overheard the maids talking, and rumor has it there will be dashing knights in attendance. They even mentioned a remarkably handsome one who intends to request your favor," she revealed, unable to contain her excitement.

Raina chuckled softly, shaking her head. She had no interest in involving herself with another man at the moment; she was still healing from her past experiences.

Nevertheless, Raina knew the power of her beauty. She had learned to leverage it to her advantage, skillfully manipulating men without ever crossing physical boundaries. Words and body language were her tools, and they proved more than sufficient to achieve her desired outcomes.

With a warm smile, Raina lifted Wyrion into her arms, and together they exited the room. They made their way to where her family was gathered.

Approaching her grandfather, Raina lovingly kissed his cheek before placing Wyrion in his arms. The old man adored the little baby and longed to spend every waking moment with him. Raina then shifted her gaze to the maid standing beside the king before taking a seat next to Aegon.

He remained unusually silent, his gaze fixed on Raina and Wyrion. It was evident to her that he knew, or at least suspected, the truth. Wyrion bore a striking resemblance to Aegon, with the same eye shape, nose structure, and even similar lip shape. The only feature Wyrion inherited from Raina was the color of her eyes and dark skin.

Aegon glanced over at Raina, but she purposefully ignored him, focusing her attention on the ongoing tournament, not sparing him a single glance.

"Princess Raina," a voice called out from below. She stood up, peering down at the knight standing before her.

"I humbly request your favor, Princess. I believe it would bestow upon me great luck," he proclaimed. Raina had never seen this knight in the castle before, yet she offered him a smile.

"Good luck," she replied, tossing her coin down to him. The crowd erupted in cheers as she sat back down.

"Why him, out of all the people, did you grant him your favor?" Aegon's voice dripped with jealousy, his chest tight with possessiveness. He couldn't help but think that Raina should belong to him. He had taken her virtue, and she carried his child or children, even though no one else knew about it. But oh, how desperately he longed for the world to know.

"Are you feeling jealous, uncle?" Raina playfully taunted, casting a sardonic smile in his direction. Aegon averted his gaze, feigning disinterest. Yet Raina leaned in closer to him, her voice dripping with mischief.